Packing Tape Dispenser

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a packing tape dispenser which comprises an upper part having a downward facing concave space, a cutting blade rigidly mounted to the upper part and positioned in the concave space with an cutting edge recessed in the concave space, and a lower part having a groove member being able to move up and down relative to the upper part, during a tape cutting operation the groove member being moved upwardly into the concave space and pocketing at least a portion the cutting blade.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to dispensers for adhesive tapes, and, more particularly, to packing tape dispenser.

People that pack a large number of packages for shipping often use specialized tape dispensers, designed for sealing boxes with shipping tape using only one hand. One of such packing tape dispensers has a frame supporting a handle and a roll of tape. The frame also include a hinged level, when pushed, will force out a cutting blade over a stretch of the tape.

A common problem with conventional packing tape dispensers is that they do not cut tape very easily especially under less ideal situation due to their structural characteristics. Chief among them is that the tape is often suspended over a rather long stretch and can move. It is not easy to make a cut when an object is not well secured and can move under a push.

As such, what is desired is a packing tape dispenser that can be easily applied.

SUMMARY

A packing tape dispenser is disclosed which comprises an upper part having a downward facing concave space, a cutting blade rigidly mounted to the upper part and positioned in the concave space with an cutting edge recessed in the concave space, and a lower part having a groove member being able to move up and down relative to the upper part, during a tape cutting operation the groove member being moved upwardly into the concave space and pocketing at least a portion the cutting blade.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of a packing tape dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views illustrating a cutting mechanism of the packing tape dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an upper part of the packing tape dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a lower part of the packing tape dispenser of FIG. 1.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification are included to depict certain aspects of the invention. A clearer conception of the invention, and of the components and operation of systems provided with the invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings, wherein like reference numbers (if they occur in more than one view) designate the same elements. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the description presented herein.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a packing tape dispenser. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a packing tape dispenser 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The packing tape dispenser 100 includes an upper part 102 and a lower part 130. A rear end of the lower part 130 is fastened to a rear end of the upper part 102 by exemplary screws 140. As shown in FIG. 1, the rear end of the upper part 102 has a slanted surface 145, so that the naturally straight lower part 130 and the upper part 102 forms an angle and maintains a gap between their respective front ends. A piece of tape 156 with an adhesive surface facing downward can then be threaded through the gap. In some embodiments, the lower part 130 has a bend, so that the upper part 102 do not need to have a slanted surface and there is still a gap between the front ends of the upper part 102 and the lower part 130.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the upper part 102 has a concave space 106 with a recessed cutting blade 110 mounted therein. Without exerting out of the concave space 106, the cutting blade 110 does not come into contact with the tape 156 while applying the tape 156 to packages. The concave space 106 and the cutting blade 110 are situated near a front end of the upper part 102. The upper part 102 also includes a removable pin 120 situated near the rear end thereof. When the removable pin 120 is pushed in the upper part 102 and goes through a middle space 152 of the roll of tape 150, the packing tape dispenser 100 is locked to the roll of tape 150. When the removable pin 120 is pushed out of the upper part 102, the packing tape dispenser 100 is unlocked from the roll of tape 150, and a new roll of tape can be installed. In embodiments, the removable pin 120 is secured to the upper part 102, which is made of a rigid material such as plastic or wood, by friction or by screws (not shown).

Referring again to FIG. 1, the lower part 130 has two protruding strips 134 and 138 situated in a front end thereof. According to an embodiment, the elongated lower part 130 is elastic and made of a material such as stainless steel or plastic. When the front end of the lower part 130 is pushed upwards, the protruding strips 134 and 138 approaches the cutting blade 110 which is positioned in a gap between the protruding strips 134 and 138, i.e., a part of or the entire cutting blade 110 is sandwiched between the protruding strips 134 and 138 yet without touching each other. When the front end of the lower part 130 is pulled downwards, the tape 156 can be more easily accessed by fingers.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views illustrating a cutting mechanism of the packing tape dispenser 100 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the cutting blade 110 has serrated lower edge recessed within the concave space 106, so that the cutting blade 110 does not normally come into contact with the tape 156. The cutting blade 110 is unmovable relative to the upper part 102. The protruding strips 134 and 138 of the lower part 130 form side walls of a groove. During a tape cutting operation, the front end of the lower part 130 is pushed upward, so that the groove comes to pocket at least the lower edge of the cutting blade 110, i.e., at least the serrated lower edge of the cutting blade 110 is lower than an upper edge of at least one of the protruding strips 134 and 138. Because the adhesive side of the tape 156 is facing downward, the tape 156 adheres to the upper edges of the protruding strips 134 and 138 and is stretched between them. Then during the tape cutting operation, the cutting blade 110 perforates and cuts the stretched and upwardly moving tape 156. When the front end of the lower part 130 is released, spring force thereof urges the front end of the lower part 130 to move downward and leave a gap between the front end of the upper part 102 and the front end of the lower part 130, so that the tape 156 can be reached and threaded through the gap. As shown in FIG. 2B, the concave space 106 has enough space between the cutting blade 110 and internal side walls of the concave space 106 to allow the protruding strips 134 and 138 to be freely moved up to pocket the cutting blade 110.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an upper part 102 of the packing tape dispenser 100 of FIG. 1. The bottom view illustrates that the front end of the upper part 102 is a solid part 302 with two parallel side panels 305 and 307 extending rearward. The removable pin 120 is engaged with the side panels 305 and 307. When in place as shown in FIG. 3, the removable pin 120 and the upper part 102 form a closed lope to lock the ring of tape 150 through a space 310.

As shown in FIG. 3, the elongated concave space 106 is formed in the solid part 302. The cutting blade 110 with a width proximately equals to a width of the tape 156 is fastened in approximately the middle of the concave space 106 and is positioned approximately perpendicular to the side panels 305 and 307.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the lower part 130 of the packing tape dispenser 100 of FIG. 1. The top view illustrates that the lower part 130 has two side plates 405 and 407 which are connected by a front plate 402. The protruding strips 134 and 138 protrudes upwardly from the front plate 402. In one embodiment, the lower part 130 is formed by stamped sheet metal. In another embodiment, the lower part 130 is formed by injection molding of a plastic material. As shown in FIG. 4, there are openings 415 and 417 on the rear end of the side plates 405 and 407, respectively, for fastening the rear end of the lower part 130 to the upper part 102.

The above illustration provides many different embodiments or embodiments for implementing different features of the invention. Specific embodiments of components and processes are described to help clarify the invention. These are, of course, merely embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A tape dispenser comprising: an upper part having a downward facing concave space; a cutting blade mounted to the upper part and positioned in the concave space with an cutting edge recessed in the concave space; a lower part having a groove member being able to move up and down relative to the upper part, during a tape cutting operation the groove member being moved upwardly into the concave space and pocketing at least a portion the cutting blade; and a roll of packing tape rotatable attached to the upper part with a strip of the packing tape threaded through a gap formed between the upper part and the lower part and an adhesive side of the packing tape facing the lower part.
 2. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the upper part includes a pair of side panels extending backward; and a removable pin, when being attached to rear ends of the side panels, the removable pin together with a front end of the upper part and the side panels form a closed loop for locking in a roll of tape.
 3. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the cutting blade has a serrated cutting edge.
 4. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein a rear end of the lower part is fastened to a rear end of the upper part.
 5. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the upper part and the lower part are angularly attached to each other resulting in a-forming the gap between a front end.
 6. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the groove member includes two strips protruding from the lower part, during the cutting operation, an upper edge of at least one protruding strips is higher than the cutting edge of the cutting blade.
 7. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the lower part has an elastic part urging the groove member away from the cutting blade.
 8. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the lower part is “U” shaped. 9-19. (canceled)
 20. A method for applying a packing tape on an object, the method comprising: threading a strip of the packing tape through a gap between an upper part and a lower part, the upper part having a downward facing concave space with a cutting blade mounted therein, the lower part having a groove member, an adhesive side of the packing tape facing the lower part; and pushing the lower part against the object, so that the lower part moving upward with the groove member moving into the concave space and pocketing at least a portion of the cutting blade, the groove member stretching and pushing the strip of packing tape against the cutting blade.
 21. The method of claim 20 further comprising urging the lower part away from the upper part by an elastic part. 